Chicago (2002)

I have to admit, I haven’t actually sat down to watch it yet—but after sitting through thirty minutes of trailers and hearing the actors talk about it, the whole thing just didn't sit right with me. Honestly, I couldn't bring myself to drop twenty-some bucks on a ticket when my gut feeling was telling me to stay home. For me, that initial impression is everything—it’s a huge factor in whether I'll commit my time or money. I’ve definitely been burned before by ignoring that instinct, heading to the theater after hearing mixed reviews only to realize the movie was a total dud, and I really wasn't in the mood to repeat that mistake.

Personally, this was my biggest letdown of the year. I honestly don't get how this thing walked away with so many Oscars when it was up against The Hours, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Pianist.
It feels like the prestige of the Oscars—and honestly, the whole state of America—has just gone downhill.

Look, the movie isn't terrible, but Moulin Rouge is a total masterpiece compared to it—everything from the set design to the soundtrack and the acting. You just can't even put them in the same conversation.

Maybe its only flaw was being a European film.

Alex Garcia said:The only downside was that it’s an American film...

Wait, what? 😕

Dennis Lopez3, I’m starting to wonder if you skipped it just because the teaser or those commercials gave you a bad vibe or something...
And hey, that’s totally fine, we all do it sometimes...
But maybe don't come back and bash the whole movie just because you weren't a fan of the behind-the-scenes clips or the actors' interviews, especially if you're going to claim that Moulin Rouge is better...
Those little snippets can be super misleading, and honestly, what the actors say in promos doesn't mean a thing compared to the actual finished film...
For example, I’ve just never really been able to get into Catherine Zeta-Jones... she’s just not my cup of tea as an actress or anything else, really...
But even so, she was absolutely stunning in that movie...
I almost didn't even watch it at first just because she was in the cast...

Steven Ruiz, have you had a chance to watch Moulin Rouge yet? I’m planning on sitting down with Chicago soon—I'll definitely reach out once I've seen it—but, if I'm being honest, I have a nagging feeling my opinion isn't going to change much.

I sure have! I’ve actually sat down and watched both of them...
I really enjoyed both movies, they were both so good...

I’ve watched both versions, and honestly, I enjoyed them both—though for some reason, I actually found Chicago to be the better one... I can't quite put my finger on why.🙏

It’s also true that trailers can be incredibly deceptive. I’ve fallen for it more times than I care to admit; a movie looks absolutely phenomenal based on the clips they show you, but then you sit down to actually watch it and... well, it's just a total letdown.

Such a bad movie, honestly.

You can tell Gear isn't even dancing.
I'm not really into musicals, anyway.
But hey, it's just a movie, right?
But a bad movie. Totally illogical, shallow, and just... meh!
Nobody's going to remember this one.

Moulin Rouge is way ahead of Chicago... 🙂...Ewan McGregor or Richard Gere? hmmm Ewan 😍

Yeah, MR is definitely better, but even he’s kind of a drag...
I mean, some parts of Moulin Rouge actually work, but there’s nothing interesting about Chicago—it’s just boring, pushy, and way too extra. But then again, if you stripped out all the fluff, there wouldn't be much of a movie left, would there? 😬

It’s not half bad ☕
The Academy Award wasn't deserved, except maybe for Velma Kelly played by 🙂 😍
Renée was alright, but Richard Gere sucks big time
Ugh, out of the four or five musicals I've actually sat through in my life, this one is definitely the most entertaining

I’ve got Chicago on DVD and I’ve honestly popped it in more times than I care to admit—even though, if I’m being totally honest, musicals aren't really my thing! It's a cool movie, super flashy and visually stunning and all that jazz, but I can't help feeling like it shouldn't have actually snagged the Academy Award... at least not when you look at the last three years and stuff like that fatal accident movie or the one about the deceased

Olivia Baker5 said:The cinematic impact of Moulin Rouge is vastly superior to anything coming out of Chicago lately... 🙂The eternal debate: Ewan McGregor or Richard Gere? If I’m forced to weigh them against one another, my mind drifts toward Ewan. 😍

I simply cannot bring myself to agree with you! If your entire metric for judging a production boils down to which actor happens to be more easy on the eyes, then I fear we have nothing left to discuss. To my mind, Chicago stands head and shoulders above Moulin Rouge as a musical, though I will concede that its narrative structure is somewhat more demanding for the casual viewer to grasp. I have sat through the stage production twice and revisited the film three times now, and each experience has been thoroughly engaging; conversely, I found Moulin Rouge to be quite tedious. It becomes even more difficult to endure when one has to sit through Nicole Kidman, who—much like in the majority of her other films—seems less interested in actually acting and far more invested in merely performing. 🙄

To me, Moulin Rouge was just...
a bit too much of an emotional rollercoaster
and I honestly never sat through the whole thing. It just never really grabbed my attention. ☕

George Hill13 said:just being all emotional and stuff...

:

What century of R&B are we even talking about here? 😂

Betty Wright64 said:Hey, has anyone actually sat down and watched this movie yet?
And was this even a topic here before?
I have a feeling I'm late to the party again, but there it is...

It’s a great film. Honestly, I avoided it for a while because it felt like just another overhyped Hollywood fluff piece, but once I finally gave in and watched it, I was genuinely surprised by how good it actually was.👍

...

I guess Moulin Rouge is actually much better.

I’m not really feeling it, to be honest. It feels a bit dull, doesn't it? I can't help but think that the original Cabaret with Liza Minnelli was just so much better!

I was watching this movie on TV the other day, and honestly? I was pretty let down. Don't get me wrong, the acting was solid, but the soundtrack just wouldn't stick—it wasn't catchy at all—and the whole thing felt incredibly slow. It definitely isn't an Oscar contender in my book. I guess back then, they just didn't have many better options to choose from. 👎